Wiring binder



y 1963 J. E. CAVENEY 3,098,

WIRING BINDER Filed Aug. 4, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a? U L gack E.' fig.g

wwmm P wm y 1963 J. E. CAVENEY 3,098,271

WIRING BINDER Filed 5 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 5 INVENTOR.

F. l3 gaLkEavm2 3,098,271 WIG BINDER Jack E. Caveney, 10132 S. WashtenawAve, Chicago 43, Ill. Filed Aug. 4, 1959, Ser. No. 831,591 7 Claims.(61. 24-16) This invention relates to the art of wrapping and bindingwires or cables and particularly to a wire or cable tie or binder havingimproved qualities which adapt it for versatile use in wiring systemsordinarily employing wiring harnesses generally.

On electrical installations such as on electric control panels,automobiles, aircraft and others, where a plurality of electrical unitsare wired together in different ways, it has become customary to directadjacent wires along coincident paths {or neatness and for facility ofvisual location by binding them together with string, straps, tape orother forms of wiring binders. Although some binders, clamps or otherwire tie forms have proven satisfactory for some applications, all ofthem have displayed certain shortcomings which have limited their useand application. Among the disadvantages are lack of adjustability toaccommodate a wide enough range of wire bundle sizes so that manydifferent size clamps or binders must be available to meet every need.In other types, the binders or clamps are non-releasable. Once they aresecured on the wire bundle, they can only be removed with greatdifiiculty or destruction. In cases where releasability is provided, itis inconvenient and cannot be accomplished with ease. Further, on releasable types, the increment of adjustment is ordinarily too large toguarantee a tight harness connection in all cases.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved wirebinder which obviates the major difiiculties and disadvantages of priorart devices. In order to accomplish this, it is another object toprovide an improved wire binder which can be manufactured in a singlesize and is adjustable in fine increments to accom. modate a very widerange of wire bundle sizes, and which is conveniently releasable forremoval itself or for the insertion or removal of wires to or from thebundle with facility and speed.

It is another object to provide an improved wire binder which can bemanufactured economically in a simple manner, preferably of moldedplastic such as nylon.

It is another object to provide an improved wire binder having animproved strap check and release mechanism which insures a firm strapgrip in its check position and is likewise easily and completelyreleased in its release position.

It is another object to provide an improved wire binder having animproved strap check which is self-energized and which is insured ofproper operation in spite of dimensional manufacturing variations.

It is another object to provide an improved wire binder having animproved strap check which is so easily released that it can beperformed by only slight pressure of a single finger of the worker, thusavailing his remaining fingers for grasping wires and generallysimplifying and speeding up the wiring job.

It is still another object of the invention to provide improved wiringbinders which can be used as merely a means to bundle wires together or,in addition, can be used to secure a wrapped bundle in a fixed position.

It is another object to provide an improved Wire binder having specialmeans for preventing misthreading of the free strap end through thestrap check portion when forming the binder strap into a closed loopabout a wire bundle.

It is still another object of this invention to provide 3,098,271Patented July 23, 1963 an improved wire binder which can be bound ontoor removed or loosened from a wire bundle entirely by hand without needfor the use of any tools whatsoever. It is important to note that somepresently marketed wire binders require special tools having for theironly use the installation of the particular wire binders.

Other objects and advantages of the invention should be apparent uponreference to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 shows aperspective view of a wire bundle secured together by a plurality of thewire binders of this invention;

FIG. 2 shows a top plan partially cutaway view of the main body portionof the wire binder of this invention;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional view as viewed along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows a left end view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows an end view of the strap check pawl used to complement themain body portion of the wire binder shown in FIGS. 2 to 4;

FIG. 6 shows a sectional view along the line 66 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows a bottom View of the strap check pawl of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows a top plan view of the same strap check pawl;

FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of the assembled wire binder embodyingboth the main body portion and the strap check pawl of FIGS. 2 to 8 asit appears securing a bundle of wires together.

FIG. 10 shows a top plan view of a modified form of assembled wiringbinder;

FIG. 11 shows a partial sectional view of the modified wiring binder asit appears securing a bundle of wires together;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the modified form of binder securedto a mounting board with an improved mounting means; and

FIG. 13 shows a sectional View along the line 13-13 of FIG. 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, the binders 1 and 2 of this invention are used tobind or secure together a plurality of wires 3 into a bundle 4. Thebinders l, in addition, can be secured in a fixed position to a mountingboard 5 by means of screws 6.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the main body portion 14 of a binder 1consists of an enlarged connector end 7 connected to a narrower strapend 8 which is of a length necessary to encircle the largest bundle ofwires to be bound with a certain amount of extra length. The connectorend 7 is provided with a mounting hole 9 through which one of the screws6 passes when the binder is secured to a mounting board 5 or the like.This connector end 7 is also provided with two marginal uprights 10 and11 which connect to a transverse bridge portion 12 which extends over anopening 13 extending entirely through the connector end 7. Adjacent oneside of the uprights it? and 11 is an incline l5 depressed into theconnector end 7. The incline extends from the entire width of theopening 13 which itself is as wide as the stnap end 8. Adjacent to theother side of the uprights :10 and 11 is another incline 16 which is aswide as the incline 15, but is divided into two halves by a groove 17whose bottom surface is coincident with the upper surface 8a of thestrap end 8. The greater length of the surface 8a is provided withparallel raised teeth 18 which extend tnansversely for the width of thestrap end 8. Although the strap end ti is shown broken, it should beunderstood that its length can be in the order of about eight or ninetimes the length of the connector end 7 in the ordinary case.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the strap check pawl 19 consists of a bodyportion 20 having at one end two laterally extending uprights 21 and 22with raised teeth 21a and 22a on their margins. The upper surface of thebody portion 20 is provided with sharp teeth 2th: which aresubstantially identical to the teeth 18 on the strap end 8 of the mainbody portion 14- of the binder. On the underside of the body portion 20are provided two downwardly extending wedges 23 and 24- which have thesame downward slope as each other and as the inclines 16 and 15 of themain body portion 14. Forward of the wedge 23 and depending from it is anarrow blade-like projection 25 having the Width of the recess 17 of themain body 14. On the inner surfaces of the uprights 21 and 22 areinwardly curved pads 26 and 27.

When the binder 1 is used, the main body portion 14 is assembled withthe strap check pawl 19 in a manner indicated in FIG. 9 with the wedge24 resting on the incline 15, the wedge 23 in the opening 13, and theforward end of the body portion 20 bridging the opening 13 below thetransverse bridge 12 with the projection 25 in the groove 17. By havingthe distance from the bottom surface of the bridge 12 to the uppercorner of the incline 15 slightly less than the thickness of the strapcheck pawl 19 measured from the lower corner of the Wedge 23 to theupper edge of the teeth 20a directly above it, the check pawl 19 willordinarily remain assembled to the main body portion 14 approximately asshown in FIG. 9. The assembly of these parts will remain even though thestrap end 8 is not positioned as shown.

The usual sequence of operation concerned with the use of the binder 1is to secure the main body portion 14 by means of a screw 6 to a panelboard or the like in a position where it is desired to locate a bundle 4of wires 3. The bundle 4 is placed over the strap end S which is wrappedaround the bundle as shown in FIG. 9. The leading end 8:: is passedbetween the teeth of the check pawl 19 and the lower surface of thebridge 12 until it emerges beyond the end of the check pawl 19. As it ispassed, the teeth 18 on the strap end frictionally engage the teeth 20aon the check pawl 19 and urge movement of the check pawl 19 in thedirection of the arrow 28 which moves the wedges 23 and 24 down theirrespective inclines 16 and 15 to lower the pawl 19 away from the bridge12 and provide a large enough opening for the easy passage of the strapend 8. The deliberate concave curve of the path of the teeth Ziia on thepawl insures engagement of the two sets of teeth 18 and 20a because itcauses the strap end 8 to assume a corresponding curve path, whichforces it into engagement with the pawl 19 in spite of possibledimensional variations ordinarily obtained during manufacture.

With the projection 25 in the groove 17, this prevents the possibilityof mis-threading the strap end 8 between the wedge 23 and the incline16. This feature is very important because the opening 13 in theconnector extends entirely through the bottom of the connector end 7opposite the bridge 12. The reason for this is that the opening 13 forthe reception of the strap end 3 can be manufactured easier and cheaperin an injection molding device if this type opening is provided. If thisthreading feature embodying the projection 25 would not be provided, theopening 13 shape which is a manufacturing advantage would be a usedisadvantage.

After threading, the strap end 3 is drawn tightly by manually pullingthe strap end 8 in the direction of the arrow 29 until the binder '1holds the bundle 4 securely enough. Then, upon release of the strap end8, resilience of the bundle 4 causes reverse movement of the pawl 19 toa locked position about as shown at 19a with the teeth 20a tightlyengaging the teeth 18 and urging the strap end 8 against the bridge 12.The spacing of the pads 26 and 27 from each other is a little less thanthe width of the strap end 8. Therefore, the strap end edgesfrictionally engage the pads 26 and 27 at this time and this assists inthis reverse movement of the pawl 19. The material of the wire binder ispreferably nylon or other similar resilient plastic material. Thismaterial provides the re quired resilience of the pads 26 and 27 so thatthey properly frictionally engage the strap end edges. By having theangularity of the engaging teeth 18 and 20a of a steepness or slopegreater than that of the inclines 15 and 16, initial engagement of theteeth preferentially urges movement of the check pawl to increase teethengagement rather than to permit the inclines to resist movement of thecheck pawl and cause slippage between the teeth.

When and if release of the strap end 8 is required, the check pawl 19can be shifted in the direction of the arrow 28 to urge the teeth 20aaway from those on the strap end 8. Then, the strap end can be reverselyremoved from the connector end 7. With the slopes of the wedges 23 and24 and their respective inclines as shown, it has been found that slightfinger pressure in the direction of the arrow 3a is sutticient to causeproper release. Such a one finger release operation leaves the otherfingers available for grasping and holding wires or other binders inorder to render the entire wiring operation more eflicient.

A second embodiment of the invention is shown in the binder 2 of FIGS.10 and 11. The basic difference is that there is no hole 9 provided fora mounting screw since this type of binder is to be used primarly asshown in FIG. 1 for binding a bundle only, not for securing it inlocation on a panel board. Because of its nature, the strap endcorresponding to 8 of the binder 1 extends from the opposite end of theconnector end 7a and its teeth 18a are on its opposite surface. A studyof its application to a bundle 4 of wires 3 makes the nature of itsdifferences obvious. It has an advantage in that the connector end 7alies flush on the bundles 4 rather than extends from it as does theconnector 7 of the binder 1. Otherwise, the binder 2 is identical tobinder 1 and like parts are so numbered.

In FIG. 10 is particularly shown the manner in which the thumb 30a andthe forefinger 31 can be used to grip the strap check pawl 19 forreleasing it. This applies to the release of the binder 1 as does thesingle finger release shown in FIG. 9 for binder 1 apply to hinder 2.

As particularly shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the binder 2 can be held inplace on a panel board by means of a "binder anchor 40 which is designedto hold the binder 2 in a perpendicular position relative to it asshown. It comprises a main body 41 having two spaced apart portions 42and 43 joined together by two parallel horizontal walls 44 and 45 whichdefine an opening 45a large enough to pass the strap end 80 of thebinder 2 with a slight frictional fit. The portion 43 is provided withan car 46 extending in line with the wall 45. This car has a holeprovided through which a screw 47 can be passed for mounting the binderanchor 40 to a panel board 48. The advantage of this anchor is that theconnector end 7a of the binder 2 can be positioned practically anywherearound the periphery of the path of its closed loop as desired. This isdesirable in particularly inaccessible places where the binder might beused.

From what has been shown and described, it should be apparent that theinvention obviatm the shortcomings mentioned of prior art devices and,in addition has new advantages, and although only certain particularembodiments of the invention have been shown, it should be understoodthat the invention can be made in other ways and with other variationswithout departing from the true scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

Iclaim:

1. A wiring binder comprising a flexible strap having a connector at oneend and a free strap end at the other, the connector having a base andtwo parallel spaced apart side walls extending from the base of theconnector and joined together by means of a bridge spaced from saidbase, said base, said two parallel side walls and said bridge definingan opening through the connector, a check pawl extending into saidopening, said check pawl being provided with a toothed surface oppositesaid bridge and another surface opposite said toothed surface with apair of saw tooth wedges depending therefrom, at least one of the wedgesslidably engaging an incline in the base of the connector, the inclineand wedges being positioned to guide the toothed surface of the checkpawl either toward or away from the bridge depending upon whichdirection the check pawl is moved, a clear passage being providedthrough the opening be tween the bridge and the toothed surface of thecheck pawl when the check pawl is moved away from the bridge, saidpassage being provided for the reception of the free strap end which isprovided with a toothed surface which ordinarily faces the toothedsurface of the check pawl when the free strap end is formed into a loopand inserted into the passage, the passage being narrowed when the checkpawl is moved toward the bridge to thereby urge the toothed surface ofthe check pawl into engagement with the toothed surface of the freestrap end, the steepness of the teeth on both the free strap end and thecheck pawl being greater than that of the incline to preferentially urgemovement of the check pawl on the incline rat-her than slippage be;tween the teeth once they are engaged, and the toothed surface of thecheck pawl being curved concavely toward said bridge longitudinally todefine a curved path for the free strap end in said passage.

2. A wiring binder comprising a flexible strap having a connector at oneend and a free strap end at the other, the connector having a base andtwo parallel spaced apart side walls extending from the base of theconnector and joined together by means of a bridge spaced from saidbase, said base, said two parallel side walls and said bridge definingan opening through the connector, a check pawl extending into saidopening, said check pawl being provided with a toothed surface oppositesaid bridge and another surface opposite said toothed surface with apair of saw tooth wedges depending therefrom, at least one of the wedgesslidably engaging an incline in the base of the connector, the inclineand wedges being positioned to guide the toothed surface of the checkpawl either toward or away from the bridge depending upon whichdirection the check pawl is moved, a clear passage being providedthrough the opening between the bridge and the toothed surface of thecheck pawl when the check pawl is moved away from the bridge, saidpassage being provided for the reception of the free strap end which isprovided with a toothed surface which ordinarily faces the toothedsurface of the check pawl when the free strap end is formed into a loopand inserted into the passage, the passage being narrowed when the checkpawl is moved toward the bridge to thereby urge the toothed surface ofthe check pawl into engagement with the toothed surface of the freestrap end, the steepness of the teeth on both the free strap end and thecheck pawl being greater than that of the incline to preferentially urgemovement of the check pawl on the incline rather than slippage betweenthe teeth once they are engaged, and the relative shapes of the bridgeand the toothed surface of the check pawl urging said strap end into acurved path convexly against said toothed surface of the pawl.

3. A wiring binder comprising a flexible strap having connector at oneend and a free strap end at the other, the connector being provided witha loop through which the free strap end can be passed, and a check pawlslidable in the loop between two positions, the first positionrestricting the passage and the second position allowing the passage ofthe free strap end through the loop, said loop comprising an openingdefined by a base portion of the connector and two approximatelyparallel side walls extending from the base portion of the connector andspaced apart from each other and joined together by means of a bridgespaced from said base portion, in the first position of the check pawl asurface of the check pawl engaging the strap end and urging it againstthe bridge to restrict passage of the strap end through the loop and inthe second position the check pawl being moved away from said bridgetoprovide a clear passage for the strap end through the loop, said baseportion having an opening all the way through it of the same size andshape as said bridge and located immediately opposite it.

4. A wiring binder comprising a flexible strap having a connector at oneend, the connector being provided with a surrounding wall defining anopening through which the strap can be passed after being bent into aloop about a bundle of wires, said strap being drawntight on the bundleby drawing the strap through the opening and shrinking the loop, a checkpawl slidable on an incline formed on the bottom portion of thesurrounding wall of the connector in the region of the opening, slidablemovement of the check pawl up the incline causing the check pawl toengage the strap and press it against said wall and arrest its passagethrough the opening and slidable movement down the incline causing thecheck pawl to release the strap and provide clear passage of the strapthrough the opening, the engaging portions of both the check pawl andthe strap having angular teeth to provide a secure grip between themwhen they are engaged, the slope of the angular teeth being steeper thanthe slope of the incline to preferential-1y urge movement of the checkpawl on the incline rather than allow slippage between the teeth oncethey are engaged.

5. A wiring binder comprising a flexible strap having a connector at oneend and a free strap end at the other, the connector having a base andtwo parallel spaced apart side walls extending from the base of theconnector and joined together by means of a bridge spacedfrom said base,said base, said two parallel side walls and said bridge defining anopening through the connector, a check pawl extending into said opening,said check pawl being provided with a toothed surface opposite saidbridge and another surface opposite said toothed surface with a pair ofsaw tooth wedges depending therefrom, at least one of the wedgesslidably engaging an incline in the base of the connector, the inclineand wedges being positioned to guide the toothed surface of the checkpawl either toward or away fromthe bridge depending upon which directionthe check pawl is moved, a clear passage being provided through theopening between the bridge and the toothed surface of the check pawlwhen the check pawl is moved away from the bridge, said passage beingprovided for the reception of the free strap end which is provided witha toothed surface which ordinarily faces the toothed surface of thecheck pawl when the free strap end is formed into a loop and insertedinto the passage, the passage being narrowed when the check pawl ismoved to: ward the bridge to thereby urge the toothed surface of thecheck pawl into engagement with the toothed surface of the free strapend, the steepness of the teeth on both the free strap end and the checkpawl being greater than that of the incline to preferentially urgemovement of the check pawl on the incline rather than slippage betweenthe teeth once they are engaged.

6. A wiring binder comprising a flexible strap having a connector at oneend and a free strap end at the other, the connector having a base andtwo parallel spaced apart side walls extending from the base of theconnector and joined together by means of a bridge spaced from saidbase, said base, said two parallel side walls and said bridge definingan opening through the connector, a check pawl extending into saidopening, said check pawl being provided with a toothed surface oppositesaid bridge and another surface opposite said toothed surface with apair of saw tooth wedges depending therefrom, at least one of the wedgesslidably engaging an incline in the base of the connector, the inclineand wedges being positioned to guide the toothed surface of the checkpawl either toward or away from the bridge depending upon whichdirection the check pawl is moved, a clear passage being providedthrough the opening between the bridge and the toothed surface of thecheck pawl when the check pawl is moved away from the bridge, saidpassage being provided for the reception of the free strap end which isprovided with a toothed surface which ordinarily faces the toothedsurface of the check pawl when the free strap end is formed into a loopand inserted into the passage, the passage being narrowed when the checkpawl is moved toward the bridge to thereby urge the toothed surface ofthe check pawl into engagement with the toothed surface of the freestrap end, said passage having a narrow portion provided between thecheck pawl and the base of the connector, and a projection extendingbetween the check pawl and said base which blocks the passage of thefree strap end in the region between the check pawl and the base andthereby prevents mis-threading of the free strap end into the openingthrough the connector.

7. A wiring binder comprising a flexible strap having a connector at oneend and a free strap end at the other, the connector having a base andtwo parallel spaced apart side walls extending from the base of theconnector and joined together by means of a bridge spaced from saidbase, said base, said two parallel side walls and said bridge definingan opening through the connector, a check pawl extending into saidopening, said check pawl being provided with a toothed surface oppositesaid bridge and another surface opposite said toothed surface with apair of saw tooth wedges depending therefrom, at least one of the wedgesslidably engaging an incline in the base of the connector, the inclineand wedges being positioned to guide the toothed surface of the checkpawl either toward or away from the bridge depending upon whichdirection the check pawl is moved, a clear passage being providedthrough the opening between the bridge and the toothed surface of thecheck pawl when the check pawl is moved away from the bridge, saidpassage being provided for the reception of the free strap end which isprovided with a toothed surface which ordinarily faces the toothedsurface of the check pawl when the free strap end is formed into a loopand inserted into the passage, the passage being narrowed when the checkpawl is moved toward the bridge to thereby urge the toothed surface ofthe check pawl into engagement with the toothed surface of the freestrap end, the check pawl being provided with two marginal uprightsbetween which the free strap end must ordinarily pass when it isinserted into said passage, the two marginal uprights being providedwith resilient pads which ordinarily frictionally engage the edges ofthe free strap end, said frictional engagement applying a force whichassists in movement of the check pawl upon longitudinal movement of thefree strap end. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS403,254 Doddridge May 14, 1889 1,368,545 Childers Feb. 15, 19211,378,946 Gilson May 24, 1921 2,303,108 Blackburn Nov. 24, 19422,491,290 Tinnerman Dec. 13, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,432/29 AustraliaJan. 14, 1930 2,487 Great Britain of 1908 799,446 Great Britain Aug. 6,1958 (Corresponding to US. Pat. 2,915,268, Dec. 1, 1959) 1,126,581France July 30, 1956

4. A WIRING BINDER COMPRISING A FLEXIBLE STRAP HAVING A CONNECTOR AT ONEEND, THE CONNECTOR BEING PROVIDED WITH A SURROUNDING WALL DEFINING ANOPENING THROUGH WHICH THE STRAP CAN BE PASSED AFTER BEING BENT INTO ALOOP ABOUT A BUNDLE OF WIRES, SAID STRAP BEING DRAWN TIGHT ON THE BUNDLEBY DRAWING THE STRAP THROUGH THE OPENING AND SHRINKING THE LOOP, A CHECKPAWL SLIDABLE ON AN INCLINE FORMED ON THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THESURROUNDING WALL OF THE CONNECTOR IN THE REGION OF THE OPEN ING,SLIDABLE MOVEMENT OF THE CHECK PAWL UP THE INCLINE CAUSING THE CHECKPAWL TO ENGAGE THE STRAP AND PRESS IT AGAINST SAID WALL AND ARREST ITSPASSAGE THROUGH THE OPENING AND SLIDABLE MOVEMENT DOWN THE INCLINECAUSING THE CHECK PAWL TO RELEASE THE STRAP AND PROVIDE CLEAR PASSAGE OFTHE STRAP THROUGH THE OPENING, THE ENGAGING PORTIONS OF BOTH THE CHECKPAWL AND THE STRAP HAVING ANGULAR TEETH TO PROVIDE A SECURE GRIP BETWEENTHEM WHEN THEY ARE ENGAGED, THE SLOPE OF THE ANGULAR TEETH BEING STEEPERTHAN THE SLOPE OF THE INCLINE TO PREFERENTIALLY URGE MOVEMENT OF THECHECK PAWL ON THE INCLINE RATHER THAN ALLOW SLIPPAGE BETWEEN THE TEETHONCE THEY ARE ENGAGED.